Would you like to deepen your relationship with God, and become more aware of God’s presence in your life? Are you interested in enriching your prayer life? Do you need a space to quiet your soul in the midst of a hectic and stressful world? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, we encourage you to consider Spiritual Direction at The Common Place.
When the two disciples were walking on the Emmaus Road, Jesus came alongside them and joined in their conversation. His presence shed light on all that they were wondering about and their hearts warmed with awareness that their companion was the Risen Christ (Luke 24:13-35).
Spiritual Direction is something like the Emmaus Road experience where individuals talk together about matters of faith and life, trusting that the Presence of Christ is with them bringing new awareness and insight for the life of faith.
What to Expect in Spiritual Direction
Individual Spiritual Direction sessions usually take place once a month for about an hour. The director listens to whatever you choose to share that day and helps you notice the movements of God. Our whole life is our “spiritual” life and God is in every part of it. So you bring yourself – just as you are with whatever is happening in your life – and together we ask, “Where is God in all of this?” The session often includes some quiet prayer together.
Group Spiritual Direction consists of four people and a spiritual director meeting for one and a half to two hours. This time includes silence, sharing, and reflection. All group members have an opportunity to share what is on their hearts and the rest of the group reflects what they have heard from God in the silence that surrounds the sharing. In group Spiritual Direction we listen for God for and with each other.
Both individual and group Spiritual Direction are available at The Common Place.
In collaboration with CityLights, The St. David’s Center for Spiritual Direction also offers quarterly “Morning of Holy Rest” gatherings for women in the Southwest community. At these retreat mornings, there is time for prayer, for fellowship, and for quiet time to spend with God. The “Morning of Holy Rest” events take place at Bartram’s Garden or at The Common Place.
All Spiritual Direction sessions and events are free of charge.
Buff Barnes, M.A.
Buff has been offering group and individual spiritual direction since 2006. She received spiritual direction training from Oasis Ministries for Spiritual Development and from Chestnut Hill College. At The Common Place, Buff helps with administrative tasks and at the Common Worship Experience on Sunday evenings. She looks forward to growing the spiritual direction and retreat ministry of The Common Place.
Fran Thayer, M.A.
Fran has been involved in contemplative listening as a spiritual director since 2011. She has trained with the Shalem Institute in Washington DC and has a Masters degree from Virginia Theological Seminary. Currently working part-time as the director of The Retreat House at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Hillsboro MD, she is also a part-time lay preacher and retreat leader. Holding prayerful space to help others draw near to God is one of her favorite things to do.
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